WESTERN EUROPEAN DIOCESE: May 7, 2020Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe holds individual video-conferences with each of his parishes

During the present weeks of Paschal-tide, as the continuation of restrictions on travel and group gatherings related to the COVID-19 coronavirus makes parish visitations impossible, His Grace Bishop Irenei has been "visiting" each of the diocese’s parishes via community video-conference, in order to exchange the Paschal greeting, "Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!" and congratulate each parish family with the Feast of Feasts, as well as to provide a small opportunity to bring together members of each parish who have been separated physically — though not spiritually — from one another during the past weeks.

Such gatherings have taken place already for many of the diocesan parishes, with others scheduled over the coming week. In each case, clergy from the parish have joined together with parishioners and friends from the region — including sometimes parishioners from nearby communities in other Orthodox Churches — for a brief period of fellowship and spiritual conversation.

"Unusual times call for unusual labours," Bishop Irenei noted when speaking to the parish in Lyon, France, in reference to the utilization of videoconferencing for such a parish gathering, "but we take advantage of every opportunity at our disposal to remind ourselves of our unbreakable spiritual communion and unity as parish families living in the Risen Christ!"